Telescopic Ceiling Fan

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan includes an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan. The apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member. The apparatus includes a drive gear member, and the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member. The apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member and includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ceiling fan, and in particular to a ceiling fan that can be raised and lowered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ceiling fans are commonly placed in residences and business establishments to facilitate air movement within rooms. As is known, a ceiling fan motor comprises a stator, a rotor, and blades connected to the rotor to be rotated by the motor. Often, in electrical motors, the rotor is inside the stator. However, many ceiling fans employ an inside-out motor in which the rotor is on the outside and surrounds the stator.

As to the ceiling fan structure, a motor is used for driving the vanes to rotate and produce winds, so as to achieve the air cooling effect. However, the technology of the ceiling fans tends to have additional functions including a sleep mode, an air conditioning, an expedited air-conditioned circulation, a decoration, an illumination, a low power consumption, and a remote control function, in addition to providing wind and dissipating heat.

Since the use of the ceiling fans is very popular in everyday life and users have high demands on stability, safety, comfortability, convenience for its functions, therefore finding a way for raising and lowering ceiling fan in order to clean the ceiling fan and to adjust the height of the ceiling fan for proper effectiveness becomes an important point for the design of a good ceiling fan system in the industry.

Ceiling fans have been around for many years as a useful air circulator. The popular blade style over the years is a flat planar rectangular blade that can have a slight tilt, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,027 to Yound and Des. 382,636 to Yang.

In today's modern homes and businesses, high ceilings have become a fact of life. However, when these high ceilings have a ceiling fan, these fans may not be reachable by ordinary means. The present invention lowers these high ceiling fans to a level that may be reached by standing on the floor. The present invention eliminates the need for a ladder or a cleaning rod. The present invention may be operated electronically by using a lower/raise switch on the wall or by remote control.

The present invention provides for convenience, ergonomics and safety.

An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan includes an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan.

The apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member.

The apparatus includes a drive gear member, and the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member.

The apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member and includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan.

The apparatus includes a rack for moving the ceiling fan and includes a pinion for cooperation with the rack.

The apparatus includes a air cylinder member for moving the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a guard ring member to maintain the position of the inner housing member with respect to the outer housing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an apparatus to move a ceiling fan;

FIG. 2 a illustrates another embodiment of an apparatus to move a ceiling fan;

FIG. 2 b illustrates a side view of the rack and pinion;

FIG. 2 c illustrates a top view of the inner housing member;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates fan blades 10 and a fan blade motor 11 which is mounted at one end of the inner housing member 102 which raises and lowers the fan blades 10 and fan blade motor 11. The inner housing member 102 moves within the outer housing member 100 which is shown as a cylinder and extends from the flange bearing member 104 to approximately the fan motor 11 when the fan motor 11 and fan blades 10 are retracted. The inner housing member 102 includes external threads 103 to cooperate with internal threads 107 of the threaded bushing member 106. As the internal threads 107 are rotated in cooperation with the external threads 103, the inner housing member 102 is raised and lowered. A drive gear member 108 which is driven by a motor 110 cooperates with a hubbed gear member 112 which cooperates and turns the internal threads 107 of the threaded bushing member 106. The outer housing member 100 includes an upper and lower guide ring member 114 to maintain the relative position of the inner housing member 102 with respect to the outer housing member 100. FIG. 1 additionally illustrates two limit switch members 116 which are positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member 102 by shutting off the motor member 110 when the inner housing member has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. The ceiling mount member 101 connects the outer housing member 100 to the ceiling 115. Trip bar member 118 positioned on the inner housing member 102 cooperates with the limit switch member 116 to limit the travel of the inner housing member 102.

In operation, the motor 110 turns the drive gear member 108 which turns the hubbed gear member 112 which turns the internal threads 107 of the threaded bushing member 106. The internal threads 107 raise and lower the inner housing member 102 by cooperating with the external threads 103 of the inner housing member 102. The fan blades and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended and are retracted as the inner housing member 102 is raised or lowered.

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c illustrate another embodiment of the present invention and illustrate fan blades 10 and a fan blade motor 11 which are mounted at one end of the inner housing member 202 which raises and lowers the fan blades 10 and fan blade motor 11. The inner housing member 202 moves within the outer housing member 200 which is shown as a cylinder and extends from approximately the ceiling 115 to approximately the fan motor 11 when the fan motor 11 and 10 are retracted. The inner housing member 202 includes a rack member 220 to cooperate with a pinion member 222 which is mounted on a motor 110. The pinion member 222 is rotated by the motor 110 and cooperates with the rack member 220 which moves up and down, and as a consequence, the inner housing member 202 is raised and lowered to raise and lower the fan blades 10. The outer housing member 200 includes the upper guide ring member 221 and lower guide ring member 223 which corresponds to the exterior shape of the inner housing member 202 to maintain the position of the inner housing member 202 with respect to the outer housing member 200.

FIG. 2 a additionally illustrates the limit switch member 116 which is positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member 202 by shutting off the motor member 110 when the inner housing member has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. Trip bar member 118 positioned on the inner housing member 102 cooperates with the limit switch member 116 to limit the travel of the inner housing member 102.

In operation, the motor 110 turns the pinion 222 which drives the rack 220 either up or down in accordance with the direction of rotation of the pinion 222. The fan blades 10 and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended to correspond to the position of the fan motor 11.

FIG. 2 b illustrates a side view of the rack 220 cooperating with the pinion 222, and FIG. 2 c illustrates a top view of the inner housing member 202 and guide ring member 221. The top end of the inner housing has a closure plate 224.

FIG. 3 illustrates fan blades 10 and a fan blade motor 11 which is mounted at one end of the inner housing member 302 which raises and lowers the fan blades 10 and the fan blade motor 11. The inner housing member 302 moves within the outer housing member 300 which is shown as a cylinder and extends from approximately the ceiling 115 to approximately the fan motor 11 when the fan motor 11 and fan blades 10 are retracted. The inner housing member 302 includes a hangar plate member 332 to cooperate with a flexible wire 334. The inner housing member 302 is raised and lowered by capstan and wire member 330. The capstan and wire member 330 is rotated by the motorized winch member 310 which is mounted on the winch support member 331, The outer housing member 300 includes the upper guide ring member 117 and lower guide ring member 114 to maintain the relative position of the inner housing member 302 with respect to the outer housing member 300. FIG. 3 additionally illustrates the limit switch member 116 which is positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member 302 by shutting off the motor member 310 when the inner housing member 302 has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. Trip bar member 118 positioned on the inner housing member 302 cooperates with the limit switch member 116 to limit the travel of the inner housing member 302.

In operation, the motorized winch member 310 rotates the capstan and wire member 330 which raises and lowers the inner housing member 302. The fan blades and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended one retracted as the inner housing member 302 is raised or lowered.

FIG. 4 illustrates the fan blades 10 and the fan blade motor 11 which are mounted at one end of the inner housing member 402 which raises and lowers the fan blades 10 and fan blade motor 11. The inner housing member 402 moves within the outer housing member 400 which is shown as a cylinder and extends from approximately the ceiling 115 to approximately the fan motor 11 when the fan motor 11 and fan blades 10 are retracted. The inner housing member 402 includes a rod connector member 440 to connect to the air cylinder member 442. The air cylinder member 442 lowers and raises the inner housing member 402 and is connected to a first support member 444 and a second support member 446 to provide support to the air cylinder member 442. The inner housing member 402 and the outer housing member 400 include the upper guide ring 117 and lower guide ring members 114, respectively, to maintain the relative position of the inner housing member 402 with respect to the outer housing member 400. FIG. 4 additionally illustrates the limit switch members 116 which are positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member 402 by stopping the air cylinder member 442 when the inner housing member 402 has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. Trip bar member 118 positioned on the inner housing member 402 cooperates with the limit switch member 116 to limit the travel of the inner housing member 402.

In operation, the air cylinder member 442 raises and lowers the inner housing member 402. The fan blades and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended and retracted as the inner housing member 402 is raised or lowered.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan, comprising: an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan. 2) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member. 3) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member. 4) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a drive gear member. 5) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member. 6) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 2, wherein the apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member. 7) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan. 8) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a rack for moving the ceiling fan. 9) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 8, wherein the apparatus includes a pinion for cooperation with the rack. 10) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a air cylinder member for moving the inner housing member. 11) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a guard ring member to maintain the position of the inner housing member with respect to the outer housing member. 12) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the inner housing member is moved with a winch. 